CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To safeguard the nation's territorial integrity without resorting to aggressive measures, the Department of Justice (DOJ) outlined key measures for the Philippines to assert sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during the WPS Strategic Communication Workshop organized by the Philippine Information Agency.
“We are here so that we can have a voice and understand the issue regarding the
West Philippine Sea. This is not only about the sea; this is not only about
water; this is about our economy; this is about the lives of the Filipino
people,” said PIA Director General Jose Torres, Jr.
Lawyer Fretti Ganchoon from the DOJ said the arbitral award clarified that
Filipinos have additional fishing rights. In the peripherals of the Scarborough
Shoals, the action of China in prohibiting them from fishing in the shoals
violates international law.
“In the WPS, the Philippines has the exclusive right to fish, construct
artificial islands, conduct marine scientific research, and take measures to
protect and preserve the marine environment,” she added.
Thus, Ganchoon suggested that the Philippine government could incentivize
fisherfolk to adopt sustainable fishing practices in the WPS. Emphasizing the
exclusive rights of the Philippines, she also proposed providing incentives to
scientists for conducting vital marine scientific research in the area.
Highlighting the international dimension of the issue, Ganchoon noted the
absence of an international police force to enforce maritime laws and the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Hence, she said the
Philippines has the option to rally support from other nations.
Further citing strategies to claim sovereign rights when it comes to
communication, Assistant Secretary Michael Andre del Rosario of the
Presidential Communications Office said, “We have to be firm, but we also have
to be mindful du’n sa ating comms, sa ating mga materials, na [in our
communication materials that] we don't go beyond what is the limit of firmness
and what is right.”
Legal foundation
Referring to the tribunal ruling, Ganchoon asserted that China has illegally
occupied seven maritime features in the West Philippine Sea. This ruling, she
argued, provides a legal foundation for the Philippines to safeguard its
sovereign rights and seek international cooperation in upholding the tribunal's
decision.
As the Philippines takes proactive steps to protect its interests in the West
Philippine Sea, the government remains committed to diplomatic channels,
international cooperation, and innovative strategies to ensure the country’s
stability and adherence to international law.
“There are still a lot of things to be done. We are gaining momentum. But this
momentum needs to be sustained by addressing the disconnect between the
national government and the grassroots level. This is needed in order to make
every Filipino a stakeholder in this issue, which is the key to cementing our
gains in the West Philippine Sea issue,” said Maj. Gen. Nestor Herico, deputy
director general of the National Security Council.
The communication strategic workshop will also be held for the regional offices
of PIA in the Visayas. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran and Recthie T. Paculba)
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